Sequestration harms cancer patients

This year in Tennessee, it is estimated 36,580 people will be diagnosed with cancer. For them, cuts to cancer research under the sequester are very real. Because of the cuts, 1,000 fewer people were able to enroll in potentially lifesaving clinical trials this past year and the National Institutes of Health has lost more than $1.5 billion, a reality felt by cancer research labs across the country.

This holiday season, I'm holding out hope that Congress will still do what's right for cancer patients and their families and turn off the sequester, reinvesting in the fight against this devastating disease. There are nearly 14 million cancer survivors alive in the U.S. today because of past cancer-research breakthroughs. But resting on past progress is a dangerous proposition. The across-the-board cuts to federal research could cost us the progress made so far.

As a lung cancer survivor, I urge Congress to consider what's at stake for families impacted by cancer that might be counting on the next big breakthrough in treatment or relying on federally funded local programs for cancer screenings. Let's give a little hope for the holidays and not continue to jeopardize progress.

Jenny White

Volunteer, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Nashville 37214

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Sequestration harms cancer patients

This year in Tennessee, it is estimated 36,580 people will be diagnosed with cancer. For them, cuts to cancer research under the sequester are very real.